Who Is The Greatest Hurler That You Have Ever Seen

Diabhal Beag · 15-10-2012 05:46PM

Henry Shefflin might be the greatest sportsman I've ever seen, nevermind greatest hurler. He is a superb player and despite the odd chat with the ref he is also a great role model for kids

Canning is definitely the best Galway hurler I've seen in my time of watching hurling. Hope to feck that injuries don't blight his future though.

jolatacqce · 15-10-2012 06:25PM

I'v often wondered how the modern greats would have coped with the heavy leather sliotar that the likes of Ring,Rackard, Doyle,Mackey,just to mention a few,played with,especially on a wet day?

Davin Stand · 15-10-2012 06:53PM

premierstone wrote: »

Best I've seen is Henry Shefflin and its not even close tbh, without question the most intelligent player of he's generation and a gentleman to boot.

From a Tipp perspective its a real toss up between Eoin Kelly and Nicky English, and tbh I can't seperate them, one was a scorer of great goals that no one else could have scored and the other scored some of the most redic points.

Surely Jimmy Doyle would be worth a mention from any Tipperary poster.

Straight Talker · 15-10-2012 07:05PM

jolatacqce wrote: »

I'v often wondered how the modern greats would have coped with the heavy leather sliotar that the likes of Ring,Rackard, Doyle,Mackey,just to mention a few,played with,especially on a wet day?

Of all the greats from that era no one ever mentions Waterfords John Keane.He excelled at centre back and centre forward and Ringy thought very highly of him.Of the modern day Waterford players for consistency alone you have to respect Tony Browne.Sadly for Tony a lack of composure from Waterford during key championship matches,bad luck and a lack of a settled full back have all conspired to deny him an all ireland medal.Still though considering that in the pre 98 days when Waterford used to get hammered year after year (they would pull of the odd shock win every now and then) Waterford have been competing at the business end of the championship over the past few years and Tony Big Dan Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn have left youngsters all over Waterford with aspirations that they can achieve what they did and more.That's some legacy to leave behind.

varberg · 15-10-2012 07:13PM

The names of Christy Ring of cork and Rackard of wexford and Jimmy Doyle of tipp were the greatest of many eras, havent seen much of them play though.

Its probably subjective whoever you pick but here are my top three.

The best defender was probably Brian Whelehan. Top defender, great reading of the game, all the skills. Always dependable and assured. With Birr they won club all irelands, with offaly they won county all irelands.

Forward i would say Eoin Kelly of Tipp. In his prime he scored freely, goals, points from play or frees. Led Mullinahone to a county title even though they were predominately football club up until that time. Carried Tipp too on occasion, when he was the only forward that was top class. Gave some top displays over the years.Scored something like 2.11 or so for tipp v limerick in thurles one year with some incredible scores.Some brilliant goals too over the years.

If i had to go for a third i would say the great Brian Corcoran of Cork. Best of the modern era in that he played superbly in the backs and in the forwards, gifted at hurling and football.Outstanding player.

Others worth a mention would include Ciaran Carey of Limerick, Nicky English of Tipp, Henry Shefflin and DJ Carey of Kilkenny, Joe Cooney and more recently Joe Canning of Galway, Ben o Connor and Joe Deane of Cork, Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn of Waterford.

My top three though are Brian Corcoran throughout his career, Eoin Kelly in his prime and Brian Whelehan who was excellent for club and county.

Bizzum · 15-10-2012 07:35PM

Brian Whelehan for pure class and the way he dominated big games.

I'm under the impression that the was man of the match in 5 of the 6 All Irelands that he won?

MfMan · 15-10-2012 07:50PM

Bizzum wrote: »

Brian Whelehan for pure class and the way he dominated big games.

I'm under the impression that the was man of the match in 5 of the 6 All Irelands that he won?

Hard to argue with that. JC would attract a few more votes from those who had seen his display yesterday.

harry21 · 15-10-2012 08:02PM

As a corkman, I'd go with the stats and say Henry. He is not the most skillfull hurler ever (I think Joe will claim that one in time) but his work rate, and influence on the team mark him out as not only one in a generation, but a one off. He has led a team, sucessfully, to 9 all ireland titles, and nearly every final over the last 14 years.

I'm sick now after saying that by the way!

Bizzum · 15-10-2012 08:07PM

harry21 wrote: »

the most skillfull hurler ever

On this subject, John Troy is hard to beat! Even by Joe!

harry21 · 15-10-2012 08:22PM

Bizzum wrote: »

On this subject, John Troy is hard to beat! Even by Joe!

Skillful and we will be here all day!! Most of the the 'most skillful' hurlers I've ever seen have never even been close to a county team.

deisedude · 15-10-2012 09:12PM

harry21 wrote: »

As a corkman, I'd go with the stats and say Henry. He is not the most skillfull hurler ever (I think Joe will claim that one in time) but his work rate, and influence on the team mark him out as not only one in a generation, but a one off. He has led a team, sucessfully, to 9 all ireland titles, and nearly every final over the last 14 years.

I'm sick now after saying that by the way!

Seconded. Has to be Henry. Kilkenny without him are a far weaker team.

From a Waterford perspective Ken Mcgrath

ft9 · 15-10-2012 09:28PM

Thread needs a poll. Shefflin, one of the greatest sports man in the world.

Duiske · 15-10-2012 11:52PM

Davin Stand wrote: »

Surely Jimmy Doyle would be worth a mention from any Tipperary poster.

I mentioned him already, and I'm from Kilkenny.

Think he was probably the best ever Tipp player.

dastardly00 · 16-10-2012 12:31AM

Davin Stand wrote: »

Surely Jimmy Doyle would be worth a mention from any Tipperary poster.

Did you see him play?

premierstone · 16-10-2012 12:54PM

Davin Stand wrote: »

Surely Jimmy Doyle would be worth a mention from any Tipperary poster.

The OP's question was in realtion to players we have seen, so my answer is based on 1987 to the present day.

Joe Canning getting alot of mentions here which I think is bizzare and exteremely premature, in my mind he is not even the best hurler I have seen from he's own family! In time maybe but not just yet.

Kerrydude1981 · 16-10-2012 01:57PM

DJ was probably the best hurler I have seen,he could turn a game on its head in one moment of brilliance,I remember seen him playing against Kerry in the mid 90s in Tralee in a NHL game,Kerry ran them close 3 or 4 points in it,DJ didnt have a great game,I think he only got a point but I remember he made most of the scores for his team mates that day,speed off the mark and his sharp eye for goal set him apart from the rest for me

Ciaran Carey comes a close second,he was a real driving force for that Limerick team,its a pity he never got an All Ireland medal,how can we forget that super point against Clare

Brian Corcoran and Ken Mcgrath are joint third,both whole hearted defenders and skilful and both just as good in the forwards as well,I was at the 04 Munster final in Thurles and I still remember Kens catch towards the end and his point in the first half,inspirational stuff.

Corcoran was also a mighty player very strong and a top class defender who was a great reader of the game and as we saw when he came back he was also a top class forward and he was a great addition to the Cork team who at the time had light lively forwards and he proved a great addition to them.

Joe Cooney,Pat Fox,Nicky English, I thought Tony O Sullivan from Cork was a class act,Brian Lohan,Seanie McMahon,Martin Storey,Brian Whelahan,Johnny Dooley,Paul Flynn and Tony Browne all great players I had the pleasure of watching,all be it against Kerry which usually ended up in an donkeys beating for us most of the time

eigrod · 16-10-2012 03:41PM

From my own County : Jimmy Barry Murphy
From other County : Henry Shefflin

MfMan · 16-10-2012 07:40PM

premierstone wrote: »

The OP's question was in realtion to players we have seen, so my answer is based on 1987 to the present day.

Joe Canning getting alot of mentions here which I think is bizzare and exteremely premature, in my mind he is not even the best hurler I have seen from he's own family! In time maybe but not just yet.

Premature maybe, bizarre certainly not. Anyone who's seen him play all through his career to date cannot fail to recognise the different class he so often brings to the games he graces. Ollie was outstanding too though.

glasagusban · 16-10-2012 09:11PM

The greatest I've ever seen is shefflin. Cannot argue with it what he has achieved in his career already. Helped by playing on the greatest team of all time course.

The best player I've ever seen is Joe canning. No one has the same range of skills as him, fielding, stickwork, frees, sidelines. He has scored goals no one else could score, including the goal in the all Ireland final, and one of the most amazing goals I've ever seen in his debut season in a league semi final in limerick v cork.

My personal pick as favourite and greatest is ciarán Carey. Unfortunately his career at the top was all too short, but at his best the man was an absolute wizard, no one could touch him. His sheer talent was amazing in an era of unbelieveable hurlers, especially from that great Offaly team.

Two more mentions, first ollie canning. Has to be the best corner back ever. Don't think any other player has err been so influential from corner back. Again incomparable stickwork and his covering made him almost like having two players. Last one ken McGrath. An absolute colossus of the game. Magic off the cuff hurling and domination of games, he was a joy to watch.

And those 3 demonstrate that medals won have nothing to do with greatness. There but for the grace off god would go shefflin!

John37 · 16-10-2012 09:21PM

Agree about Ciaran Carey. Was an inspirational figure in Limericks midfield nearly driving them forward to 2 All Ireland titles. His career was blighted by injury though and he certainly deserved at least one All Ireland

randd1 · 17-10-2012 10:19AM

Shefflin by a country mile. His sheer force of will puts him above all others.

earlytobed · 17-10-2012 02:55PM

Shefflin.
Honorable mentions to
DJ Carey
Nicky English
Ken McGrath
Setanta Halpin

kevthegaff · 17-10-2012 02:58PM

john leahy was exceptional a couple of years

castletownman · 17-10-2012 03:06PM

Wexford point of view: Liam Dunne. With honourable mentions to Adrian Fenlon, Martin Storey and Damien Fitzhenry.

All-time: Probably Henry Shefflin. With Tommy Walsh, Brian Corcoran and DJ Carey following behind him.

Osmago · 17-10-2012 03:49PM

earlytobed wrote: »

Shefflin.
Honorable mentions to
DJ Carey
Nicky English
Ken McGrath
Setanta Halpin

Setanta?? Played one inter-county season!!

Don't Chute! · 17-10-2012 06:41PM

Ha! If Setanta was in an empty room he STILL wouldn't be the best hurler in that room!

glasagusban · 17-10-2012 06:53PM

black and amber wrote: »

Ha! If Setanta was in an empty room he STILL wouldn't be the best hurler in that room!

Who would be?

BQQ · 18-10-2012 10:53AM

earlytobed wrote: »

Shefflin.
Honorable mentions to
DJ Carey
Nicky English
Ken McGrath
Setanta Halpin

Setanta??

I think you're getting him mixed up with Sean óg.

DyldeBrill · 18-10-2012 10:56AM

I'd have to go with Sheff, track record is just too good!

My favourite hurler though has to be John Carroll of Tipp, jaaaysus now that fella was a bull! Never forget that great goal he scored against Offaly!

JimboJones74 · 18-10-2012 12:01PM

red_diesel wrote: »

Inter-County: Henry or DJ. Henry is consistently brilliant and has played in great teams but DJ could create a goal out of absolutely nothing. For me DJ, just pips it
Club: Ray Heffernan of Glenmore. Was part of the great Glenmore side of the 80's and 90's. Would score 10+ points in each game. Great free taker. Played with this laid back swagger but was head and shoulders above everyone else in a side that included the O'Conner's, Liam Walsh, Titch Phelan and his brother Christy. A joy to watch.

What a club side - with all those cracking players on it.

Who Is The Greatest Hurler That You Have Ever Seen

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